Direction signal switch



NOV 14, 1944. J ESHBAUGH 2,362,689

DIRECTION SIGNAL SWITCH Filed Aug. 4, 1941 PILOT ag Zhwentor {@515 v. e/ssse ass/154 11 8g v W 9L (Ittornegs Patented Nov. 14, 1944 DIRECTION SIGNAL swrron Jesse E. Eshbaugh, Flint, Mich, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware .Application August 4, 1941, Serial No. 405,281

4 Claims.

My invention relates to direction signal systems such as are used on motor vehicles, and is directed particularly to the automatic reset type.

Figure 1 of the drawing shows a conventional motor vehicle steering wheel with a direction sig nal switch made according to my invention installed on the steering column.

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a direction signal system embodying the switch of my invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of my direction signal switch with the cover removed showing the switch parts on the interior of the casing.

Figure 4 is a view in section substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in section substantially on line 5-5 .of Figure 4.

A steering column 2 is shown with a direction signal switch indicated generally by 4 attached thereto. The switch of my invention comprises a casing 6 held to the steering column by a semicircular clamp 8. Clamp 8 and casing 6 are held in assembled relation by screws I 0.

.In the interior of easing 6 I provide an arcuate bearing member I2, the center of curvature of which substantially coincides with the center of the steering column. Spacer blocks l4 of any suitable insulating material, the inner faces of which have a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of bearing member l2, are biased against bearing member 12 by a spring 16. A block or support l5 carries a pair of contacts l8 and to which spacers l4 are secured, and which are movable into and out of engagement with fixed contacts 22 and 24, respectively, as blocks l4 slide on hearingmember l2. A lever 26 substantially H-shaped (Figure 3) is pivotally secured to support I5 bya pin 28. Lever 26 is provided with a pair of extensions 30 and 32 which cooperate with loop spring members 34 and 36, respectively. See especially Figure 5. Lever 26 is provided with still another pair of extensions 38 and 40. As best seen in Figure 4, the hub of the steering wheel is notched as at 42 to provide lugs 44. These lugs cooperate with either extension 38 or 40, as will be presently explained, to return the switch to its neutral position. A handle member or control lever 48 is provided to make manipulation of the switch possible without necessitating removal of the hands from the wheel. Handle 46 is rigidly secured to support I 5 by a screw 41., and moves in an arcuate slot 48 in casing 6. The movement of blocks I 4 along bearing member I2 is limited by extensions 38 and coming into engagement with the ends of slots 49 in bearing member I2. Easy access to the interior of the switch casing is provided by -readily removable cover plate 50.

I may also, if I desire, provide a pilot light 5| which I may mount inside the switch casing. The switch 52 of the pilot light may be closed by a relay attracting armature 55. Relay 54 may be an ordinary solenoid or an intermittently operating device, such as a flasher device. Such an intermittent device would give a flashing signal to both the external signal lights and also to the pilot light. I may provide a Window (not shown) in cover 50 opposite pilot light 5! to make this light visible, or I may make cover 50 out of a transparent or translucent material.

Referring now to Figure 2, any suitable source of electrical power such as storage battery 56 may be provided. A conductor 58 connectsone terminal of the storage battery to relay 54. Conductor 60 connects relay 54 with movable contacts l8 and 20 of my improved switch. This connection of relay 54 to the movable contacts is shown diagrammatically in Figure 2, and can easily be made by one skilled in the art. Fixed contact 22 leads to the right signals through conductor 62 and fixed contact 24 leads to the left signals through conductor 64. Conductor 66 connects pilot light 5| with conductor 58. The other side of the pilot light is grounded through the relay operated switch. Similarly, the front and rear signal lights are suitably groundedto provide I a return circuit.

The operation of my direction signal switch is as follows: When the driver of the vehicle wishes to indicate a turn, for example a, right (turn, he moves handle 46 up as seen in Figure 3. Movable contact I8 is thereupon brought into engagement with fixed contact 22, closing a circuit to the right signal lights and energizing relay 54. If relay 54 is a solenoid, switch 52 is closed energizing pilot light 5|. If relay 54 is a flasher so that it operates intermittently, the circuit to the signal lights will be opened and closed at regular intervals to cause flashing of the signal lights, and switch 52 will be opened and closed to cause flashin of the pilot light 5|. When handle 46 is moved up, extension 30 of pivoted lever 26 rides up on loop spring 34 as seen in dotted lines in Figure 5, lifting extension 38 into the path of lugs 44. When the wheel is then turned clockwise for the right-hand turn, lugs 44 will ride over extension 38, not aiiecting the switch parts. When the steering wheel is turned counterclockwise to straighten out the front wheels of the Vehicle after the turn has been made, one of the lugs 44 will engage extension 38 and will return lever 26, support 15 and handle 46 to the neutral position. The operation for a left turn is similar.

Changes and modifications in my invention will be evident to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a signal switch, a contact movable into switch closed position, a pivoted lever, resilient means positioned to tilt the lever upon movement of the contact into switch closed position, said tilting being accomplished by one end of the lever riding up on the resilient means to be supported thereby in a raised position in switch closed position, and a lug cooperating with the raised end of the tilted lever'to return the contact to switch open position.

2. In a motor vehicle signal switch, an operating handle, a contact-carrying support actuable by the handle into switch closed position, a lever pivotally mounted on the support, a spring onto which one end of the lever may ride to tilt the lever upon movement of the contacts to switch closed position, and means actuable by the steering mechanism of the vehicle and cooperating with the pivoted lever to return the contacts to switch open position.

3. In a signal switch, an arcuate bearing surface, a support, contacts on the support, spacer blocks on the contacts slidably engaging said surface, means to bias the blocks against the surface, a lever pivotally mounted on (the support, resilient means onto which one end of the lever may ride to tilt the lever about its axis upon movement of the support into switch closed position, and means cooperating with the tilted lever for returning the support to switch open position.

4. In a motor vehicle, a steering member, a lug on said member, a switch, means to close the switch, a tiltable lever, resilient means onto which one end of the lever may ride to move the lever end into the path of said lug upon closing of the switch whereby rotation of the steering member in one direction causes said lug to pass over and depress the lever end without affecting the switch, and rotation in the opposite direction causes said lug to engage said end of the tilted lever to open the switch.

JESSE E. ESHBAUGH. 

